Girvin targeting spring comeback

Girvin, among the more accomplished 3-year-olds of 2017, posted his first racetrack work of 2018 when he went a half-mile in 49.60 seconds on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Unraced since finishing fifth Sept. 24 in the Oklahoma Derby, Girvin, who won the $1 million Louisiana Derby and the $1 million Haskell Invitational last year, got in a couple of works at Grand Oaks Farm in Florida before shipping back to trainer Joe Sharp in New Orleans. Rosie Napravnik, Sharp’s wife, worked Girvin on Saturday.

“We were real happy with the work. He was plenty fit for the half and galloped out nice,” Sharp said. “He’s a rested horse coming back. His attitude is better, and he’s filled out a lot and matured. I think we have the same horse as when Girvin was good, if not a better one.”

Sharp said there are no set plans for Girvin’s comeback start, but if all goes well the colt should be ready to race sometime this spring in Kentucky.